Conduct Disorder and Future Substance Abuse:
Factors Affecting Drug Treatment Outcome
Matthew E. Goldfine
Prior research has demonstrated a relation between Conduct Disorder (CD), its severity (total
number of symptoms), and substance use disorder (SUD). The current study examined 105
opioid dependent adults for a history of CD and treatment outcome characteristics over a 16
week SUD treatment program. Results demonstrate the effects of CD in regards to poorer
improvement of summed Addiction Severity Index composite scores and amphetamine use.
Improvement in cocaine use was found to be associated with a CD diagnosis. CD severity was
found to lead to poorer improvement as measured by psychiatric impairment and alcohol
intoxication. However, participants with increased CD severity were more likely to decrease
sedative and cocaine use over the course of treatment. A history of CD and violent behavior was
not shown to affect treatment outcome. No treatment retention or urine sample analyses
differences were found among any of the comparison groups.